Repole’s Overdriven joins New York Watch

Overdriven got off to a good start for owner Mike Repole (NYRA/Adam Coglianese) Repole Stable’s OVERDRIVEN (Tale of the Cat), a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Smooth Air (Smooth Jazz), broke his maiden in easy fashion on Friday in the 2ND race at Belmont Park. With the victory, the colt joins the New York Watch, which profiles up-and-comers that have recently cleared the maiden ranks at Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga. His page is located at . The Todd Pletcher trainee, with John Velazquez aboard, bobbled at the break of the five-furlong maiden special weight and was then taken up as J C’s Pride (Henny Hughes) cut in front of him to dash to a clear lead. Velazquez eventually settled his mount into a stalking position for the opening three furlongs before sending the juvenile up to take command following a brief duel with the pacesetter. Overdriven pulled away once gaining the lead to stop the clock in :56 2/5 while 3 1/2 lengths clear on the wire of his career debut. The bay colt, who was purchased for $350,000 by Crupi’s New Castle Farm, agent for Repole Stable, at last year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the winning French Deputy mare Air France, who is most noted for producing Smooth Air. That runner would capture the 2008 editions of the Hutcheson S. (G2) and Ohio Derby (G2) as well as the next year’s Gulfstream Park H. (G2) while racking up placings in the Florida Derby (G1) and Metropolitan H. (G1). He retired to stud with a 17-6-5-3 career line having banked $1,117,200 in lifetime earnings.

Both Smooth Air and
Overdriven come from the same female family as Grade 2 winners Penny’s Reshoot
(Turkey Shoot), Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union) and Chace City (Carson City).

“I had my team out there (at the sale): Ed Rosen, my pedigree guy, Jim
Martin, my racing manager, and Jimmy Crupi, who picks out my yearlings,”
owner Mike Repole
said. “I looked at the (catalog) page, they looked at everything else. I saw he
was a half to Smooth Air. The mare was never bred to anything more than a $5,000
sire. This is the first foal from when she was bred to a proven stallion. I saw
the mare was a producer with unproven stallions.”

Repole said Overdriven ranks well among the score of juveniles he has placed
in the hands of Pletcher. Included in the group is Zow (Bluegrass Cat), who
debuted a two-length winner against New York-breds in the
4TH race later on
Friday’s card.

“Out of my yearlings of 2010, I paid $350,000 for two of them,” Repole said.
“(Overdriven) is one. Of course these horses don’t know what they cost, but
right now it looks like he’s worth $350,000. Todd has had this horse since May.
I sent Todd 20 two-year-olds, and this is one in the top five.

“We are very fortunate to have a nice crop this year. This is a good way to
start the two-year-old season. We have some nice bullets, and this is the one
who was ready early.”

Repole indicated the Sanford S. (G2) at Saratoga on July 24 is a possibility
for Overdriven.

“We will see how the horse is doing and Todd and I will decide,” Repole said.

Overdriven will attempt to follow in the footsteps of fellow New York Watch
member and Repole Stable representative Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), who was named
last year’s champion two-year-old colt after breaking his maiden by 14
1/4-lengths at Saratoga, winning the Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont, and capturing
the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Churchill Downs.